Fed: Popov supports Touretski

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2001
Fed: Popov supports Touretski

Four times Olympic gold medallist ALEX POPOV is supporting his coach of 11 years, GENNADI
TOURETSKI, who's been charged with possessing banned anabolic steroid drugs.

The Russian swimmer says he's never had cause to question his coach.

He says he's had an association, both socially and professionally, with TOURETSKI for 11 years.

And he says he's never had any need to question his credibility or his ethics.

The coach will face Canberra Magistrates Court tomorrow on a charge under the poisons
and drugs act, which carries a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment.

TOURESTSKI, who's expressed his innocence through his lawyer, is suspended with full
pay from his role as swim coach at the Australian Institute of Sport.





The charge follows the burglary of TOURETSKI's Canberra home on April 1, when his safe,
containing medals and other possessions, was stolen.

Police later recovered the safe from a Canberra dam.

Police have refused to provide details about the alleged drug or its discovery.

AAP RTV mb/mss/jtb

KEYWORD: TOURETSKI POPOV (CANBERRA)

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